C96 Goodbye Miss Su Yuqing

"Related to me?" Chu Yan pondered with a hint of suspicion.

His only encounter with Su Yuqing was brief, and as far as he could recall, they had no prior interactions.

So, what information about him could she possibly have?

Moreover, Su Yuqing's status appeared to be quite significant.

Li He, a man whom the powerful families in town wouldn't dare cross, referred to her as 'Young Miss.'

Could Su Yuqing be connected to the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce in some way?

Lost in thought, Chu Yan found himself following Li He deeper into the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce without even realizing it.

They navigated through a series of corridors without any sign of stopping. Just as Chu Yan was about to inquire further, Li He, seemingly attuned to his thoughts, clarified, "The young miss is at the Genuine Martial Arena right now. I'm taking you there, but it's a bit of a walk still."

During their walk, Li He offered Chu Yan an overview of the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce.

Chu Yan had previously sensed that the Chamber was more complex than it appeared on the surface. Now, Li He's briefing revealed that its scale was even grander than Chu Yan had imagined.

The branch in Qingyang Town was merely one part of the extensive Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce network.

"The Chamber's reach extends across the Yunao Kingdom and several neighboring territories. Here in Evergreen Town, we're just a small fraction of it. You should see the rest if you ever get the chance, Little Brother Chu Yan," Li He said with a smile.

"Spanning multiple territories..." Chu Yan couldn't help but feel a surge of amazement.

Although his time in Evergreen Town had been brief, he had quickly grasped the disparity between a kingdom and its states.

Considering the Chamber's influence across several territories, Chu Yan surmised that in terms of wealth and power, the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce was likely far more formidable than the Southern Yuan Kingdom itself.

Li He continued by detailing the Chamber's various enterprises within Evergreen Town.

Chu Yan learned that the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce's presence extended beyond mere storefronts; their ventures were diverse, covering essentials from clothing and food to housing and transportation. They even managed resources like timber and minerals from the surrounding mountains. Indeed, the Chamber was a behemoth with the power to sway the very fabric of Evergreen Town.

The "Genuine Fighting Arena" they were headed to was a property of the Wan Hai Chamber of Commerce in Changqing Town.

Chu Yan had initially thought the arena was a place where warriors could train and receive instruction. But upon arriving and witnessing the frenzied shouting and electrifying atmosphere, he realized he had underestimated the place.

This wasn't a training ground, but a venue for martial arts duels.

The vast hall, capable of accommodating thousands, was packed to the brim. At the center of the throng stood a long, wide stage.

As Chu Yan and Li He made their entrance, a wave of sound hit them, painfully reverberating against their eardrums, as if the very roof were about to be torn off.

Regaining his composure, Chu Yan's gaze was drawn to the distant stage where he saw a fighter, blood spewing from his mouth, tumbling down from the platform.

The victor's triumphant shout sent the crowd into a frenzy. It was like a ladle of water hitting hot oil, the reaction was explosive.

"Over here."

Following Li He's lead, Chu Yan made his way to the upper-tier seating.

These seats were secluded behind soundproof wooden partitions, invisible to those outside.

Chu Yan observed that despite the crowd, the path Li He guided him along was inaccessible to others.

They stopped in front of a room with an optimal view, and Li He tapped lightly on the door. Su Yuqing's soft voice beckoned from within, "Come in."

Li He opened the door with a smile, "Miss, Chu Yan has arrived."

"Chu Yan?" Su Yuqing's face lit up with a mix of surprise and delight. She rose to greet him, her voice tinged with reproach, "You haven't visited in so long, I was about to send for you."

Li He was taken aback by Su Yuqing's affectionate tone, something he had never heard her use with anyone else.

Without delay, Chu Yan shared his commitment to the Lin Family's Internal Selection Competition, assuring her that his absence was not intentional but due to a tight schedule.

Su Yuqing, already aware of his circumstances, welcomed him with a warm smile and ushered him inside.

Li He sensed that Su Yuqing needed a private word with Chu Yan, so he excused himself to attend to other matters.

Once seated, Su Yuqing served Chu Yan tea with a gentle smile. "I haven't had the chance to congratulate you yet. You emerged victorious from the Lin Family Selection and even secured a spot among the top ten prodigies of Evergreen Town."

"It still baffles me," Chu Yan admitted, savoring a sip of the spirit tea. A wave of coolness swept through him, leaving him refreshed and invigorated.

Instantly, he recognized that this spirit tea was of a far superior grade than the one Zhao Shude had previously given him.

Noticing Chu Yan's realization, Su Yuqing smiled and said, "I brought this Spring Language Tea with me on my visit here. I personally harvested and roasted it, though I regret not bringing more. When you leave, take the rest with you."

"Then I'll accept without reservation," Chu Yan expressed his gratitude.

He could sense the abundant spiritual energy within the Spring Language Tea, which was richer than he had anticipated. Now at the fifth level of the Genuine Force Stage, this tea would undoubtedly enhance his chances of advancing to the Pulse Condensation Stage.

Ordinarily, one would have to brew the tea to access its spiritual energy, which would inevitably lead to some loss.

But Chu Yan faced no such issue.

Employing the Art of the Swallowing Whale's Spirit, he chewed the tea leaves directly, ensuring not a trace of spiritual energy went to waste.

Taking another sip, Chu Yan inquired, "What's the story behind the title of Evergreen Town's ten great young geniuses?"

He recalled hearing this peculiar moniker from Bai Yingcai.

Su Yuqing chuckled at Chu Yan's apparent cluelessness and asked, "Haven't you ventured out since the Lin Family Selection ended?"

"Not at all," Chu Yan responded candidly.

"That explains it," Su Yuqing nodded. "During the selection, other families in Evergreen Town also picked their representatives for the upcoming contests. Someone took the initiative to rank these individuals."

"I made it into the top ten?" Chu Yan grasped the situation instantly.

"Exactly," Su Yuqing said with a smile. "In theory, not many in Evergreen Town should recognize you. But your effortless victory over Lin Ao during the Lin Family's selection contest caught everyone's attention. And then, when word got out about your win against Ye Chen of the Ye Family, your place in the top ten was secured.

These top contenders are soon to vie for a coveted spot within the Profound Moon Sect. Hence, the moniker 'Ten Great Young Talents of Evergreen Town' has been coined for the likes of you."